James Harden Signs Record-Breaking Extension with Houston Rockets

The Houston Rockets have been one of the most interesting teams to watch during free agency so far. From bringing in All-Star Chris Paul, to trying to attract Carmelo Anthony, the Rockets are trying to catch the Warriors through free agents. After James Harden made the All-NBA team in May, he was eligible to add four years to his current deal and, as the season ended, the Rockets put all focus on extending his contract with them.

To make a deal like this possible, Harden took advantage of the NBA’s new CBA rules allowing any team to extend an All-NBA team member’s contract by up to six years with a guaranteed amount of money. After Steph Curry signed a 5-year, 201-million-dollar contract, many thought that no player would outdo him this year. But James Harden’s contract blew his out of the water.

The contract extension itself is worth $170 million, plus his additional salary, coming to a total of $228 million. This is the largest current deal in the NBA and will likely remain this way for a good time. When asked about the contract Harden said, “Houston is home for me, the owner has shown he is fully committed to winning, and my teammates and I are going to keep putting in the work to get better and compete for the title.”

The moves made by the Rockets this off-season show that the organization is committed and ready to take the next step and compete in the West. With all the Rockets’ focus now lying on the possibility of a trade for Melo, this off-season should be a fun one for Rockets fans. One thing is for sure, the beard will remain in Houston.